The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Crista]

A few posts back was a discussion on liver. Just wondering if folks are keeping liver for pets and dinner or if they were feeding it back to their chickens. Hmmmm

And what is CAFO?

 

[JanetMarie]

Thank you to oldhenslikedogs, Leahsmom, and gevshiba. I have to go out later today. GNC is 20 miles away, maybe they'll have the oreganol and arinica. I'll make sure I stock my first aide kit with your suggestions. You've all been so helpful and very encouraging.

I redressed the marans wounds. They're looking better. I'd prefer to keep them open to air but I don't want any flies getting in there. I do have NuStock but I chose to use betadine, then neosporin after I flushed with saline. My dog had an allergic reaction to NuStock once so I'm a little nervous about using it. I remember Bee using it for gleet and it worked wonders. Both the maran and the rooster are alert, but unable to drink on their own. I have a lot of aspirin so I'll start that at their next drink time. I've been trying to go out every two hours.

The roo is much more active but his neck flops like a rag doll when he tries to lift it and the maran just lays there. I think her wing might be sprained.

We have lost poultry to a red fox also. The fox does not come around if I keep a radio on, but that is not the permanent plan.

Hope your birds are doing better.

 

[Leahs Mom]

CAFO = Confined Animal Feeding Operation

I mostly keep the liver for the animals. But we've been known to eat it on occasion.

 

[gevshiba]

I've got bees swarming my coop! They found a hole in the wall and are making themselves at home. I'm waiting until dark to feed. I'll have to feed before light in the morning. I have to walk right past the bees to get to the coop door. Looks like it will be after 5 tomorrow afternoon before anyone can come and they'll have to go through the wall. I know how important bees are, but they freak me out a bit, so they need to be gone.

 

[lazy gardener]

Got a bee keeper coming to get them? Hope so. Much better to let someone benefit from them than to destroy them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@gevshiba
If they are honeybees, beekeepers in your area will "die" to come and get them! You can call the local beekeeping association and someone will want to get them. If no local association, sometimes beekeepers list with extermination places asking to be informed so they can come get swarms.

 

[gevshiba]

Yes, if they can get them out, they will. If they are too aggressive, then I guess they'll have to kill them. But I walked right past within a foot of them this afternoon and, although they buzzed around, they didn't bump me. Had I realized they were there, I wouldn't have gotten close. When I went down later, I couldn't get within 20 feet of the coop because they were swarming everywhere. I just turned and walked away. I do hope they can get them out alive. I've found 4 "bee" people, so surely I can get someone out here.

I left the coop doors open tonight. It opens into the run, so they should be safe. Tomorrow I'll go to the other side and toss their food in through the fence. I filled waters tonight and the chicks have food. Did I mention I don't like bees?

 

[Crista]

CAFO = Confined Animal Feeding Operation

I mostly keep the liver for the animals.  But we've been known to eat it on occasion.

THANKYOU !

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yes, if they can get them out, they will. If they are too aggressive, then I guess they'll have to kill them. But I walked right past within a foot of them this afternoon and, although they buzzed around, they didn't bump me. Had I realized they were there, I wouldn't have gotten close. When I went down later, I couldn't get within 20 feet of the coop because they were swarming everywhere. I just turned and walked away. I do hope they can get them out alive. I've found 4 "bee" people, so surely I can get someone out here.

I left the coop doors open tonight. It opens into the run, so they should be safe. Tomorrow I'll go to the other side and toss their food in through the fence. I filled waters tonight and the chicks have food. Did I mention I don't like bees?

Usually when it is a swarm it will be pretty docile. Someone that "knows their stuff" will be able to catch them with very little ado. They usually settle into a "ball" or "cluster" around the queen and just hang there until they figure out where they want to build. Of course, they have probably figured that they want to build right there at your coop if they're under cover

 

[galefrances]

I can't get that multi button to work! Anyway...

@JanetMarie

Thanks. I'll put a radio out there for now. Although I haven't seen that fox since the attacks. Darn thing probably knows my neighbors aiming for him.

@ gevshiba

I'm with you. Bees make me jumpy. I wonder if those fake hives work to keep the nests away? I'm going to try hanging some under the kids slide. They always tend to hang out there.

So for the update on my chickens and maybe a little perspective from those that don't mind offering:

My rooster is eating yogurt and scrambled eggs and drinking water as long as I hold his head up for him. He continues to stand on his legs with the top of his head on the ground. At times he'll move around his hut while trying to lift his head. It's more of a head flip as he can't lift it more than an inch or so. I'm not sure I'm doing right by him. I've checked him thoroughly and I can't find anything wrong other than a few feathers on his neck that are missing. No open wounds, nothing protruding. I tried making him a neck brace, but it did nothing for him. I keep a rolled towel under his neck to keep his face out of the bedding.

My maran seems to be getting much stronger. She's alert. She can stand and walk a short distance. I found that out when I was getting her another syringe of water and she stood up, turned, and walked back into her hospital cage. Her right wing seems to droop a bit when she's standing up straight, but it doesn't seem to bother her. She'll eat on her own. All I have to do is put her dish in front of her. But I can not for the life of me get her to drink! I literally have to pry Her beak open and squirt the water in with a syringe. All the while she's giving me the stink eye. I don't know what to make of that. Why won't she drink? Her wounds are scabbing nicely. No sign of infection. Her poop looks normal. So far so good.

What are your thoughts about my rooster? Do you think it's possible for him to heal, maybe not completely, but enough for him to rejoin the flock? Or am I just prolonging his misery. I'm not sure how aware he is of his surroundings. Most of the time his eyes are closed unless I'm feeding him. Then he'll usually open his eyes for a bit. I'm at a loss to decide what is best for him. I'd appreciate any input.